St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-30
TAKES LOTS OF EXERCISE.
The President Sized Up by a Con-
fidential Friend.

the White house are not garrulOuS. In
deed, they are uncommunicatiye, ex-
cept upon the most simple matters.
Yet one of them spoke freely of the
habits and customs of the president to
few confidential friends this afternoon,
and one of those reliable friends has
spoken of what he heard. He says:
1.-The president takes a great deal of
exercise. 1t is not generally known,
but it is true. He walks a great deal,
and it does him good, too"
''HOw is it that he is seldom seen on
the streetS?'
because he chooses not to be stared
at. annoyed or followed. 1t is mis-
take to suppose that he is recluSe be-
cause of any fear which has been so
often attributed to him. Indeed, he is
often both amused and annoyed with
statements which he reads alleging that
he fears to meet the people. He not
only has no fear, but he has no occasion
for fear. Ever since the assassination
of President Garfield there has been a
very efficient detective force and body
guard at the White house. President
Arthur inaugurated it. President
Cleveland believes that it is wise to
continue and maintain it."
Sic walks out of the White house
from the south door, goes leiSurely
across the lawn and out upon Seven
teenth street after looking into his
stables on the way. A gentleman passes
him as he energies from the White
house grounds and goes along down the
street for half block; stops to think Of
something and walks back, turning by
the state department out into Seven
teenth street. Another gentleman en-
tiers the grounds at Fifteenth street or
Fifteen-and-a-Half street and crosses
the grounds just as the president
energies from the White house. Either
one of these gentlemen might see the
president if they looked. but they do
not. They are intent upon their own
business and look neither to the right
nor the left"
What have they to do with your
story?''
1.-The president goes up F street to
Nineteenth or Twentieth, and then
turns north towards Kalerama Heights.
One of the gentlemen whom l have
mentioned follows him, paying no at
tentiOn to the large man who slowly
walks ahead of him. The other gentle
man walks along the other side of the
street, evidently going home 10 lunch,
or in hurry TO get to some place of
business in given time. He turns
north, either at Nineteenth or Twentieth
street, before the president gets there,
and walks leisurely along as though his
hurry were over. Another gentleman
is met at Pennsylvania avenue who
appears to know the gentleman who
was walking so hurriedly. They meet,
shake hands, stop a moment to talk,
one of them points west, the other
north, and finally they agree to go to-
gether TO some point out in the direction
which the president is pursuing. They
never look at the heavy man on the
other side of the street, nor at the other
gentleman who follows him little way
behind"
'Oh! These men are all detectives,
are they?"
Not exactly detectives. They are
employees of the White house, and are
out for walk. 1t happens that they
choose to go forth when the president
does, because their services are pr0ba
bly, not needed in the executive man
sion while the president is not there.
But they are armed, alert, active fell
lows, and inaSmuch as they happen to
be along with the president, or very
near him, dc not think that it would
be wise for any stranger to make any
movement, even of curious approach
towards the president, or they might
interfere"
SIS he always guarded thus?"
'Well. in all the thrOng at his public
receptions, if any man should make
false movement of the hand, such as
reaching in his hip pocket for a hand
kerchief, it might fare badly with such
person. In less than half second
there would be pair of handouts upon
the erring one, and he would be led
away to make such explanations as he
might be able to make. 1t is safe to say
there will never again be any danger to
a president, through carelessness about
his safety. President Clevelanc chooses
to take quiet walks. because he is so
disposed; but it is pretty certain that
he has no fear to walk the avenue. if he
chose to do so.i- There would be no
need for him to fear anything. No one
could possibly injure him. He chooses
privacy"